FBI affirms support for AMIA probe

May 22, 2008 9:00am

The FBI is working to catch the five Iranians involved in the 1994 attack on Argentina’s main Jewish center, its deputy director said.

John Pistole, who is in charge of the Counterterrorism Division, said Thursday during a visit to the AMIA Jewish center headquarters that the Federal Bureau of Investigation has offered international intelligence assistance to find the terrorists, who are under an Interpol arrest warrant.

The men are accused of participating in the AMIA bombing, which killed 85 and wounded hundreds.

Pistole placed flowers at a memorial monument during his visit.

On Wednesday, he visited Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner at the government’s Pink House and reaffirmed the FBI’s support in searching for the terrorists.

Pistole also met with AMIA special prosecutor Alberto Nisman, who on Thursday asked a federal judge for an arrest warrant for ex-Argentine President Carlos Menem and other former officials, including the intelligence chief and the former AMIA case judge.

As a senator now, Menem has immunity from prosecution, which Nisman asked the court to remove.

According to Nisman, Menem protected individuals involved in the AMIA bombing.

The victims’ relatives group Familiares de las Victimas welcomed the news about the arrest order request.